Eight local government areas (LGAs) in Zamfara are expected to experience moderate flooding during the 2024 rainy season, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This announcement was made by the Director-General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, at a sensitization program in Gusau on Thursday. The event aimed to promote early warning strategies for the 2024 flood season.
Represented by the Director of ICT, Sani Alhaji-Lokoja, Umar identified the affected LGAs as Bungudu, Bakura, Gummi, Gusau, Maradun, Shinkafi, Talata Mafara, and Zurmi.
These areas had already been highlighted in previous communications from NEMA to the Zamfara state government.
Umar emphasized the importance of the downscaling and sensitization program for flood early warning strategies in Zamfara.
She called for the support of all stakeholders to extend this initiative to the grassroots level, highlighting that disaster risk management requires community-wide participation and inclusivity.
“As we always emphasize, disaster management is everyone’s business, we must work together to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure, and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in Zamfara. This approach aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda under President Bola Tinubu,” Umar stated.
Umar expressed hope that the program would significantly reduce the impact of the recurring floods and protect the livelihoods of Zamfara’s residents.
The Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, praised the program as timely and necessary.
He described flooding as a severe disaster and stressed the importance of the program in encouraging people to take early warning actions seriously.
Nakwada reaffirmed the state government’s commitment, under Governor Dauda Lawal, to collaborate with NEMA in implementing disaster risk management measures.
“I am using this medium to express the readiness of the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal to continue collaborating with NEMA to implement disaster risk management measures in the state.”
“We are going to make sure that all the information shared from this event reach all stakeholders across the state.”
He assured that the information shared at the event would reach all relevant stakeholders across the state.
Other speakers at the event included the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters, Alhaji Salisu Musa, the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, and the Director-General of the State Fire Service, Abdullahi Jibo.
They all pledged their support for the sensitization program and the promotion of early warning actions at the grassroots level.
